Grassroot Institute

This article is about the libertarian Grassroot organization. For the liberal Grassroot organization, see Grassroots (organization).

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Established	February 12, 2001
Founder	Richard Rowland
Tax ID no.	99-0354937
Legal status	501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Services	Multifaceted efforts to shed light on government operations and spending; public education regarding the movement to create a sovereign Hawaiian nation and/or other governmental entity; research into the effect of the 1920 Jones Act on the state of Hawaii.
President/Chief Executive Officer	W. Keli'i Akina
Chairman	Richard O. Rowland
Revenue (2013)	$319,899
Expenses (2013)	$321,725
Mission	Public policy research and education.
Website	new.grassrootinstitute.org

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is a public policy think tank based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The organization's goals includes a free market economy, limited, accountable government, and the defense of the Bill of Rights. The current Chief Executive Officer is Dr. Keli'i Akina. The Institute was formed on February 12, 2001 by Richard Rowland, who continues to serve as the chair of its board of directors. The organization is a member of the State Policy Network, a network of state-based think tanks.

The Grassroot Institute's stated mission is "to promote the principles of individual liberty, free markets, and limited and accountable government throughout the state of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim."

Economics

The Grassroot Institute conducts research and analysis of various issues from a free market perspective. Academic works are inspired by the writings of scholars such as Frederic Bastiat, Murray Rothbard, Milton Friedman, F.A. Hayek, and Adam Smith.

Generally, the Institute opposes tax increases, such as Hawaii's General Excise Tax.

Jones Act

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports reform of the Jones Act that would address the disproportionate effect of the shipbuilding and cargo shipping restrictions on Hawaii from the Jones Act.

Hawaiian Sovereignty

The Grassroot Institute joined with other groups to file suite against the State of Hawaii's efforts to form and gain federal recognition of a race-based, sovereign nation. The lawsuit, filed in 2015, seeks to block race-based elections in Hawaii.

Education

The Grassroot Institute supports school choice. The Institute has pointed out that despite the state Department of Education's expanding budget of $2.4 billion per year (an increase from $972 million eight years previously), public school students continue to perform at the bottom of the nation on NAEP assessments and enrollment in the system has decreased.

External links

• Official website
• Organizational Profile – National Center for Charitable Statistics (Urban Institute)

• The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Inc." Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs. State of Hawaii. Accessed December 8, 2015.
• "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Guidestar. December 31, 2013. Accessed December 8, 2015.